The number of mobile phone subscribers in the US will increase by 50% to 200 million by the end of 2006, according to a new report from The Yankee Group.
The technology research group forecasts that mobile phones are set to dominate personal calling and supersede landlines in the public conciousness.
“Wireline replacement is a $50 billion opportunity in what we expect to be a $110 billion mobile market in 2006,” says Keith Mallinson, executive vice president of the Yankee Group’s Wireless/Mobile Research. “Even more significant than the 3% of people who have actually cut the cord and have a mobile as their only phone, is the major migration of personal calling minutes to mobile phones by those who retain landlines but use them less.”
Almost 30% of total personal calling minutes in the US are already on mobile phones and this is predicted to increase to 50% by 2006. However, the report concludes that the telecoms market is crowded and at least two national wireless carriers must fail before satisfactory returns can be achieved across the board.
